Copyright

[kate t]

I have written and illustrated a children's book
Going to be printing it myself at work and hopefully sell a few locally.
Have looked online about copyright and it all looks a bit confusing - are there any reputable companies that I'm missing?
Does anyone have any experience of getting a copyright? Thanks.

[SlimRick]

You wrote it - you automatically own the copyright. It's only when others try to copy it when it pays to get professionals involved.

[Itchy]

What do you mean copyright? , as soon as you write it there is assumed copyright.

You should just keep evidence of the production of your book, a few things I've written have everything which led up to the final product every single .txt document, every word document, even original scraps of paper in which ideas and concepts were formed (all of them are dated).

There is something in word which lets you increment the file number I use this for everything I write.


A cheap trick is this, to put your document and its prototypes in an envelope and post them to yourself, NEVER open this letter, if somebody steals your work then in court when you sue them you can use the post mark of the unopened envelope as to evidence that it belongs to you.

All of the above if and or when somebody steals your work can be used as compelling evidence that the work belongs to you.

Also when you publish something you are obliged to send a copy within 1 month to the British library who will then request 5 more copies. This acts as a semi permenant time stamp on the publishing date of your work. Its supposed to be law though there are strangely no penalties to non compliance.

If you open any UK published novel with an ISBN you will see on the verso, "A CIP record is available from the British Library"



However there is an old saying, in that if somebody starts copying your work then you are sucessful.


A side issue is if you get somebody else to publish it you need to assign them copyright for X period and X number of copies, the copyright still belongs to you, but you allow them to print it so many times.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Pete.]

They probably need 5 in case they lose four of them. I once found a book by Wordsworth lying on the floor in a plant room there..
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Itchy]

[kate t]

Cheers Guys!

Itchy, Great help - Never knew any of that, thank you.
I have kept all my original drafts/drawings, so I'll do as you have suggested.
Have since spoken to my sister about this and it turns out that she knows all about ISBN's and the law etc. I feel quite that I'm so clueless.
Feeling happier now I know that my work IS protected, and don't have to spend a fortune to do so.

[and]

...

[supZ]

[Clanger]

[kate t]

[Itchy]

As an extra bit:

Look up Helene Hegemann,

It appears that she completely lifted entire sections of her book copy and past verbatim from somebody else's book. Tried to wriggle out of it via saying it was mixing not copying even though there was much Ctrl+C & Ctrl+v going on.

Her publishing house isn't budging (i.e. giving any share of royalties) and is telling the person she stole it off Airen to go do one, though in the 4th edition they will give an acknowledgement.

Seems like copyright laws are weak! if you ask me!.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[kate t]